Author: Joseph Tomasso
Date: 2012-02-16 19:06
Follow your dreams. Do NOT listen to people who say find a backup. Do not listen to people who say get a minor. Do not listen to people who say it is a difficult world out there so don't bother trying.
I have a bachelor of saxophone, a bachelor of clarinet, and a master of multiple woodwinds. I teach over 60 private lessons a week, I play in a regional professional group, and I have an adjunct position. It is a DREAM job for me. I'm practicing as hard as possible because I want to get a full time performing position but i'm making a living by teaching and performing now. I do extremely well (60 lessons a week at 30-40 dollars a lesson, you do the math!).
Go for clarinet. Do it 100% Give every waking minute of energy towards perfecting your art. You will succeed. You may not make it into the chicago symphony, but you might just make it elsewhere, or be an extremely successful freelancer, or you might be able to make a living doing studio work, or you might find yourself like me with 60 private students, recitals, a smaller orchestra, and a lifetime of improving the lives of others.
Don't get a DMA if you don't want one! It is a lot of work and if you really only want to improve your playing, go for it!!! You can always go back to school later, and you can always change your mind about taking on a second profession if you feel like music is not working for you. You can not always come back to music if you take a break. In 10 years after being an accountant, do you really think it is going to be easy to go back into a clarinet program, especially with everyone being younger?
Follow your dream!!!! I'd say look at something like the chicago civic orchestra where if you have a successful audition, you can attend DePaul or Roosevelt University for free!
I was never first chair clarinet, i was never bad either. I won my job fair and square with a lot of work. Who knows, maybe in 5 years i'll win another, but for now, I pay my bills by being a musician and you can too, no matter what ANYONE else says.
Bachelor of Music, Sax/Clarinet Performance (2005, 06)
Master of Music, Multiple Woodwind Performance (2008)
Master of Music, Oboe Performance (2013)
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Clarinet)
University of Florida 2010-2011(Visiting Lecturer in Woodwi
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The Clarinet BBoard
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